Polyoma virus defective DNAs. II. Physical map of a molecule with rearranged and reiterated sequences (D74).

The structure of the polyoma virus defective species D74 (74% the size of full-length polyoma virus DNA) has been determined and compared with that of polyoma virus A2 DNA. D74 appears to be composed entirely of viral DNA sequences. (No host DNA sequences have been detected.) It is made up of three DNA segments, each about 24, 24 and 27% in size. The two 24% segments appear to be identical and the 27% segment contains one copy of all the sequences found in the 24% fragments as well as a duplication of some of the sequences. When related to the physical map of A2 DNA, each segment is found to be composed of viral sequences from 1 to about 19 map units, 67 to 69 map units and 70 to 72 map units.Three features found in other polyoma virus defective species (Lund et al., 1977) are also present in D74. (1) Sequences from the region around 67 map units are linked to other (non-contiguous) viral sequences. (2) Sequences at about 72 map units are linked to sequences at 1 map unit. (3) Multiple copies of sequences from around the origin of viral DNA replication are present. From studies on other polyoma defective molecules (Griffin &; Fried, 1975; Lund et al., 1977), the origin of DNA replication for polyoma virus has been defined to lie within the sequences from 67 to 72 map units. Since D74 replicates efficiently but lacks the sequences between 69 to 70 map units, the origin of DNA replication appears to be further defined as lying within 67 and 69 map units and/or 70 to 72 map units.     

New classes of viable deletion mutants in the early region of polyoma virus.

Viable mutants of polyoma virus have been isolated which have deletions in defined parts of the early region of the genome. One class of mutants has deletions (less than 1% of viral genome length) located between 71.5 and 73.5 on the physical map of polyoma virus DNA, near the origin of replication. These mutants appear to grow and to transform cells in a manner indistinguishable from wild-type virus. A second type of mutant with deletions (about 2% of viral genome length) located between about 88 and 94.5 units on the physical map of polyoma virus DNA have altered transformation properties. One of the latter (which maps between 88 and 91.5 units) also has altered growth characteristics, whereas another (which maps between 91.5 and 94.5 units) resembles wild-type virus in its growth properties. The regions with deleted sequences have been defined by cleaving mutant DNAs with restriction endonucleases and analyzing pyrimidine tracts.     

Genomic structure of human polyoma virus JC: nucleotide sequence of the region containing replication origin and small-T-antigen gene

The nucleotide sequence of the region of human polyoma virus JC DNA between 0.5 and 0.7 map units from a unique EcoRI cleavage site was determined and compared with those of the corresponding regions of another human polyoma virus, BK, and simian virus 40 DNAs. Within this region consisting of 945 base pairs, we located the origin of DNA replication near 0.7 map units, the entire coding region for small T antigen, and the splice junctions for large-T-antigen mRNA. The deduced amino acid sequences for small T antigen and the part of large T antigen markedly resembled those of polyoma virus BK and simian virus 40. The results strongly suggest that polyoma virus JC has the same organization of early genome as polyoma virus BK and simian virus 40 on the physical map, with the EcoRI site as a reference point.     

Superinfection rescue of an integrated defective polyomavirus genome.

We have characterized the viral sequences integrated in a polyomavirus-transformed mouse cell line, Py-3T3 (clone Py-6), and followed their excision and packaging upon superinfection. The polyomavirus sequences contained in Py-6 cells are present as a single insert of nonidentical tandem copies which includes, in addition to a normal middle T-antigen-coding region, some very rearranged sequences. Infection of Py-6 cells with polyomavirus strains encoding a normal large T antigen leads to the reproducible recovery in the resulting viral stock of specific defective viral genomes. The defective genomes contain a wild-type coding region for middle and small T antigens and intact viral origin and enhancer sequences. The remainder of the viral genome is rearranged or lost, so that there is no capacity to code for large T antigen or viral capsid proteins. The recovered defective sequences are also found integrated in Py-6 genomic DNA. Presumably, in infections of Py-6 cells, large T antigen, provided by the superinfecting virus, amplifies and excises the integrated viral sequences. The superinfecting helper virus must also produce viral capsids for packaging of the defective viral DNA and thus provides a means to shuttle the defective sequences from the mouse cells into other hosts, such as rat cells. In the latter host, the defective sequences are able to induce transformation.     

Structural and biological analysis of integrated polyoma virus DNA and its adjacent host sequences cloned from transformed rat cells.

EcoRI fragments containing integrated viral and adjacent host sequences were cloned from two polyoma virus-transformed cell lines (7axT and 7axB) which each contain a single insert of polyoma virus DNA. Cloned DNA fragments which contained a complete coding capacity for the polyoma virus middle and small T-antigens were capable of transforming rat cells in vitro. Analysis of the flanking sequences indicated that rat DNA had been reorganized or deleted at the sites of polyoma virus integration, but none of the hallmarks of retroviral integration, such as the duplication of host DNA, were apparent. There was no obvious similarity of DNA sequences in the four virus-host joins. In one case the virus-host junction sequence predicted the virus-host fusion protein which was detected in the transformed cell line. DNA homologous to the flanking sequences of three out of four of the joins was present in single copy in untransformed cells. One copy of the flanking host sequences existed in an unaltered form in the two transformed cell lines, indicating that a haploid copy of the viral transforming sequences is sufficient to maintain transformation. The flanking sequences from one cell line were further used as a probe to isolate a target site (unoccupied site) for polyoma virus integration from uninfected cellular DNA. The restriction map of this DNA was in agreement with that of the flanking sequences, but the sequence of the unoccupied site indicated that viral integration did not involve a simple recombination event between viral and cellular sequences. Instead, sequence rearrangements or alterations occurred immediately adjacent to the viral insert, possibly as a consequence of the integration of viral DNA.     

Novel rearrangements of herpes simplex virus DNA sequences resulting from duplication of a sequence within the unique region of the L component.

We constructed insertion mutants of herpes simplex virus type 1 that contained a duplication of DNA sequences from the BamHI-L fragment (map units 0.706 to 0.744), which is located in the unique region of the L component (UL) of the herpes simplex virus type 1 genome. The second copy of the BamHI-L sequence was inserted in inverted orientation into the viral thymidine kinase gene (map units 0.30 to 0.32), also located within UL. A significant fraction of the progeny produced by these insertion mutants had genomes with rearranged DNA sequences, presumably resulting from intramolecular or intermolecular recombination between the BamHI-L sequences at the two different genomic locations. The rearranged genomes either had an inversion of the DNA sequence flanked by the duplication or were recombinant molecules in which different regions of the genome had been duplicated and deleted. Genomic rearrangements similar to those described here have been reported previously but only for herpes simplex virus insertion mutants containing an extra copy of the repetitive a sequence. Such rearrangements have not been reported for insertion mutants that contain duplications of herpes simplex virus DNA sequences from largely unique regions of the genome. The implications of these results are discussed.     

Construction and analysis of viable deletion mutants of polyoma virus.

Viable mutants of polyoma with small deletions ranging in size from 2 to 75 base pairs were obtained by infecting 3T3 cells with polyoma DNA that had been cleaved once with HaeII endonuclease or with DNase-Mn2+ digestion. The HaeII endonuclease-cleaved DNA yielded mutants with deletions at map position 72--73, whereas the mutants generated by DNase I-Mn2+ digestion had deletions either at map position 72--73 or within the map coordinates 92 and 99. Both groups of mutants appeared to grow as well as wild-type virus in 3T3 cells. The deletions at map position 72--73 did not alter the virus's ability to transform rat cells. Hence, the region just to the early side of the origin of DNA replication is not essential for vegetative growth or transformation. But the mutants with deletions in the region between map coordinates 92 and 99, a segment thought to code for polyoma large and middle T antigens (Hutchinson et al., Cell 15:65--77, 1978; Smart and Ito, Cell 15:1427--1437, 1978; Soeda et al., Cell 17:357--370, 1979), transformed rat cells at 0.2 to 0.05 the efficiency of wild-type virus.     

Nucleic Acid Homology of Murine Type-C Viral Genes

The nucleic acid sequence homology between various murine, endogenous type-C viruses (three host range classes of BALB/c virus, the AT-124 virus, and the CCL 52 virus) and two laboratory strains of murine leukemia virus (Rauscher and Kirsten) was determined by DNA:RNA hybridization. The viral sequences exhibit varying degrees of partial homology. DNA:DNA hybridizations were performed between [³H]DNA probes prepared from N- and X-tropic BALB/c endogenous viruses and cellular DNAs from BALB/c, NIH Swiss, and AKR inbred mouse strains as well as from California feral mice and the Asian mouse subspecies Mus musculus molossinus and M. musculus castaneus. All of these strains of mice are shown to possess multiple (six to seven per haploid genome), partially related copies of type-C virogenes in their DNAs. Thermal melting profiles of the DNA:RNA and DNA:DNA hybrids suggest that the partial homology of the viral nucleic acid sequences is the result of base alterations throughout the viral genomes, rather than the loss of discrete segments of viral sequences.     

Fine structure of polyoma virus DNA.

A fine structure map of polyoma DNA has been made based on cleavage with a number of restriction endonucleases (including HaeII and III, BamI, HindII and III, BumI, HpaII, and in part, HphI) and depurination of wild-type DNA, the eight HpaII restriction fragments and some HaeIII fragments. This analysis has made possible some correlation with simian virus 40 DNA, and has facilitated detailed examination of various polyoma strains and variants. Sequences from the region of the origin of DNA replication have been examined.     

An electron microscopic method for studying and mapping the region of weak sequence homology between simian virus 40 and polyoma DNAs.

A procedure for investigating the possibility of small amounts of partial DNA sequence homology between two defined DNA molecules has been developed and used to test for sequence homology between simian virus 40 and polyoma DNAs. This procedure, which does not necessitate the use of separated viral DNA strands, involves the construction of hybrid DNA molecules containing a simian virus 40 DNA molecule covalently joined to a polyoma DNA molecule, using the sequential action of EcoRI restriction endonuclease and Escherichia coli DNA ligase. Denaturation of such hybrid DNA molecules then makes it possible to examine intramolecularly rather than intermolecularly renatured molecules. Visualization of these intramolecularly renatured “snapback” molecules with duplex regions of homology by electron microscopy reveals a 15% region of weak sequence homology. This region is denatured at about 35 °C below the melting temperature of simian virus 40 DNA and therefore corresponds to about 75% homology. This region was mapped on both the simian virus 40 and polyoma genomes by the use of Hemophilus parainfluenzae II restriction endonuclease cleavage of the simian virus 40 DNA prior to EcoRI cleavage and construction of the hybrid molecule. The 15% region of weak homology maps immediately to the left of the EcoRI restriction endonuclease cleavage site in the simian virus 40 genome and halfway around from the EcoRI restriction endonuclease cleavage site in the polyoma genome.     

Epstein-Barr virus DNA. IX. Variation among viral DNAs from producer and nonproducer infected cells.

A comparative analysis of three Epstein-Barr virus DNAs from American patients with infectious mononucleosis (B95-8, Cherry, and Lamont) and four Epstein-Barr virus DNAs from African patients with Burkitt lymphoma (AG876, W91, Raji, and P3HR-1) indicated that the usual format of Epstein-Barr virus DNA includes a variable number of direct repeats of a 0.35 X 10(6)-dalton sequence (TR) at both ends of the DNA, a 9 X 10(6)-dalton sequence of largely unique DNA (Us), a variable number of repeats of a 2 X 10(6)-dalton sequence (IR), and a 89 X 10(6)-dalton sequence of largely unique DNA (UL). Within UL there was homology between DNA at 26 X 10(6) to 28 X 10(6) daltons and DNA at 93 X 10(6) to 95 X 10(6) daltons. The relative sequence order (TR, US, IR, UL, TR) did not vary among "standard" Epstein-Barr virus DNA molecules of each isolate. B95-8 DNA had an unusual deletion extending from 91 X 10(6) to 100 X 10(6) daltons, and P3HR-1 DNA had an unusual deletion extending from 23.5 X 10(6) to 26 X 10(6) daltons. There was sufficient variability among the EcoRI and BamHI fragments of the DNAs to identify each isolate specifically. However, we discerned no distinguishing features for the two geographic or pathogenic origins of the seven isolates. Three intracellular DNAs (Raji, Lamont, and Cherry) and one virion DNA (P3HR-1) were heterogenous in molecular organization and had subpopulations of rearranged or defective molecules. Some regions, particularly 59 X 10(6) to 63 X 10(6) daltons and sequences around TR, frequently participated in rearrangements. Restriction endonuclease maps of the standard and rearranged DNAs of the seven isolates are presented.     

Rearrangements in unintegrated retroviral DNA are complex and are the result of multiple genetic determinants.

We used a replication-competent retrovirus shuttle vector based on a DNA clone of the Schmidt-Ruppin A strain of Rous sarcoma virus to characterize rearrangements in circular viral DNA. In this system, circular molecules of viral DNA present after acute infection of cultured cells were cloned as plasmids directly into bacteria. The use of a replication-competent shuttle vector permitted convenient isolation of a large number of viral DNA clones; in this study, over 1,000 clones were analyzed. The circular DNA molecules could be placed into a limited number of categories. Approximately one-third of the rescued molecules had deletions in which one boundary was very near the edge of a long terminal repeat (LTR) unit. Subtle differences in the patterns of deletions in circular DNAs with one versus two copies of the LTR sequence were observed, and differences between deletions emanating from the right and left boundaries of the LTR were seen. A virus with a missense mutation in the region of the pol gene responsible for integration and exhibiting a temperature sensitivity phenotype for replication had a marked decrease in the number of rescued molecules with LTR-associated deletions when infection was performed at the nonpermissive temperature. This result suggests that determinants in the pol gene, possibly in the integration protein, play a role in the generation of LTR-associated deletions. Sequences in a second region of the genome, probably within the viral gag gene, were also found to affect the types of circular viral DNA molecules present after infection. Sequences in this region from different strains of avian sarcoma-leukosis viruses influenced the fraction of circular molecules with LTR-associated deletions, as well as the relative proportion of circular molecules with either one or two copies of the LTR. Thus, the profile of rearrangements in unintegrated viral DNA is complex and dependent upon the nature of sequences in the gag and pol regions.     

The high affinity binding site on polyoma virus DNA for the viral large-T protein.

In order to map the high affinity binding site for the viral large-T protein on polyoma virus DNA, we have developed an assay which does not require purified protein. It is based on the specific elution of the large-T ATPase activity from calf thymus DNA cellulose by recombinant DNA molecules including known sequences of the viral DNA. Using this assay, a high affinity binding site has been mapped on the early region side of the ori region. Binding requires the integrity of a sequence /AGAGGC/TTCC/AGAGGC/ (nucleotides 49 to 64 in the DNA sequence of the A2 strain). Similar repeats of a PuGPuGGC sequence within less than 20 bases are not found within the viral coding regions, but are strikingly common in the control regions of papovaviruses and other eukaryotic DNAs.     

Expression of the gene encoding the adenovirus DNA terminal protein precursor in productively infected and transformed cells.

The major product of in vitro translation of early RNA prepared from H5ts125-infected cells and selected by hybridization to adenoviral DNA fragments spanning the region from 14.7 to 31.5 map units had been shown to be identical to the 87-kilodalton terminal protein precursor. A 72- to 75-kilodalton polypeptide whose rRNA can be selected by DNA from this same region and made in the presence of anisomycin was indistinguishable from the 72-kilodalton single-stranded DNA-binding protein encoded by the region from 60.1 to 66.6 map units. The accumulation of cytoplasmic RNA sequences complementary to these l-strand genes under various conditions of infection and in certain lines of transformed cells has been investigated by solution hybridization of cytoplasmic RNA to the separated strands of restriction endonuclease fragments of adenoviral DNA. During the early phase, RNA sequences complementary to the region from 11.6 to 36.7 map units were present at a concentration of 10 to 60 copies per cell, regardless of the nature of the block used to inhibit viral DNA synthesis. By 24 h after infection in the absence of any such block, sequences complementary to the regions from 11.6 to 18.2 map units (IVa2) and from 18.6 to 36.7 map units (E2B) accumulated to concentrations of 4,800 and 280 copies per cell, respectively. The ratio of cytoplasmic E2A RNA sequences to E2B RNA sequences remained close to 10:1 throughout the time period investigated. Of the transformed cell lines which retained E2B DNA sequences that were examined, only the T2C4 line expressed these sequences in cytoplasmic RNA. The implications of these observations for regulation of expression of the adenoviral early l-strand genes are discussed.     

DNA sequences of polyoma virus early deletion mutants.

The DNA sequences of four "early" viable deletion mutants of polyoma virus have been determined. Two of these (dl-8 and dl-23) are mutants with deletions in the region of the genome that codes for parts of both large and middle T-antigens, and two (dl-6 and dl-28) are mutants with deletions around the viral origin of replication. The former mutants have altered transformation properties relative to wild-type virus, and dl-8 appears to be replication deficient (B. E. Griffin and C. Maddock, J. Virol. 31:645-656, 1979). Sequences are discussed in terms of the altered phenotypes observed for the various mutants, the DNA structures and protein sequences that are affected by the deletions, and how these might affect the biological properties of the mutants.     

Topography of the three late mRNA''s of polyoma virus which encode the virion proteins.

The three cytoplasmic polyadenylated mRNA's which separately encode the three capsid proteins (VP1, VP2, and VP3) of polyoma virus were mapped on the viral genome by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoreses of nuclease S1-resistant RNA-DNA hybrids. The mRNA's, which we designated mVP1, mVP2, and mVP3 to indicate the coding functions deduced from the cosedimentation of the RNAs and the messenger activities, comprise an overlapping set of 3'-coterminal molecules which also share a heterogeneous family of noncoding 5'-terminal regions (Flavell et al., Cell 16:357--371, 1979; Legon et al., Cell 16:373--388, 1979). The three species differ in the length of the 3' colinear coding region which is spliced to the 5' leader sequences. The common polyadenylated 3' end maps at map unit 25.3. The 5' ends of the colinear bodies of mVP1, mVP3, and mVP2 map at 48.5, 59.5, and 66.5 map units, respectively. An examination of the polyoma virus DNA sequence (Arrand et al., J. Virol. 33:606--618, 1980) in the vicinities of splicing sites approximated by the S1 gel mapping data for sequences common to the ends of known intervening sequences allowed prediction of the precise splice points in polyoma virus late mRNA's. In all three cases, the leader sequences are joined to the mRNA bodies at least 48 nucleotides before the translational initiation codon used in each particular messenger. The start signal which functions in each mRNA is the first AUG (or GUG) triplet after the splice junction.